In a stark and reflective assessment, renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi has declared that Nigeria’s political class has fundamentally “fallen short of citizens’ expectations.” This failure, he argues, has created a vast chasm between the nation’s potential and its current reality, leaving a generation’s aspirations unfulfilled. Utomi’s comments, made during the 15th-anniversary event of the civil society organisation Enough Is Enough Nigeria (EiE), serve not merely as criticism but as a historical diagnosis and a call for a new civic consciousness.
The event, themed “Footprints and Frontlines,” provided a poignant backdrop for this analysis, linking past struggles for democracy with present-day frustrations. EiE, led by activist Yemi Adamolekun, represents the enduring fight for accountable governance—a fight that Utomi suggests is being lost due to systemic leadership failures.
The Core of the Crisis: Leadership as the Bottleneck to Development
Utomi pinpointed leadership deficiencies as the central bottleneck stifling Nigeria’s progress. He elaborated that this isn’t a new problem but a persistent one, where the political and military elite have often operated as a self-serving class rather than stewards of the public trust. To illustrate the depth of this historical frustration, he recalled a provocative 1996 interview quip: that Nigeria might advance faster if its elite were given “an island and all the nation’s oil resources—on the condition that they never returned.” While humorous, this metaphor powerfully encapsulates a widespread public sentiment: that the ruling class is perceived as an extractive force, not a developmental partner.
He contrasted this with the optimism of his youth, stating, “When we were students 50 years ago, dreaming of Nigeria’s future, we never imagined it would become this.” This generational disappointment underscores how leadership failures have actively diminished national prospects over decades.
The Philosophical and Practical Failure of Democracy
Utomi invoked the ancient warning of Socrates regarding democracy—that it can devolve into “a contest of numbers rather than a contest of moral conviction.” In the Nigerian context, this manifests as a politics dominated by vote-buying, ethnic calculus, and populist rhetoric, devoid of the ethical foundation necessary for nation-building. The result is a system that produces leaders who win elections but lack the moral authority and vision to govern effectively for the common good.
Historical Precedents and Missed Opportunities for Integrity
Utomi provided concrete historical examples to show that alternative paths were possible, but were thwarted by a lack of collective courage. He cited the formation of the Concerned Professionals in 1993 following the annulment of the June 12 election—a moment when educated Nigerians temporarily subordinated personal interest to national salvation. More telling was his account of a 1995 meeting of the Integrity Movement, where business leaders were challenged to publicly sign an anti-bribery pledge. Out of 60 major figures, only three accepted.
“Imagine if all 60 major business leaders had taken that stand. Imagine where Nigeria would be today,” Utomi lamented. This anecdote is crucial; it moves the critique beyond politicians to encompass the broader elite—including the private sector—whose complicity through silence or corruption has enabled poor governance. It highlights a missed inflection point where ethical leadership in business could have created a powerful counterweight to political decay.
The Imperative of Civic Reawakening and Intergenerational Responsibility
For Utomi, national renewal is impossible without a seismic shift in civic consciousness. He believes Nigerians possess the latent power to demand change but must become “well-organised.” This is not a call for sporadic protest, but for sustained, strategic civic engagement that holds power accountable between election cycles.
He also framed activism as an intergenerational duty. “I have contributed across two generations. It is now the duty of the next generation to determine its path,” he stated, effectively passing the baton. This challenges the youth to move beyond disillusionment and craft their own mission for change, learning from past footprints while carving new frontlines.
Echoes from Other Voices: Unity, Trust, and Constructive Engagement
Other speakers at the event reinforced and expanded on these themes. Mr. Fola Adeola, Co-Founder of GTCO Group, emphasized that “genuine transformation becomes inevitable when citizens unite around common goals.” He called for rebuilding the shattered social trust that is essential for any cooperative national project, while maintaining that “Nigeria’s future remains bright”—a note of conditional optimism.
Artist and thought leader Jude Abaga addressed the palpable disillusionment among youth but urged a shift from apathy to constructive participation. “Let us use our voices constructively. This country can improve, and our young people can have the nation they deserve,” he urged. This highlights the critical choice facing a generation: to exit the system or to engage strategically to reshape it.
Connecting Past to Present: The Event’s Symbolic Acts
The event itself was designed to bridge historical memory with present action. It featured the relaunch of Footprints: Past, Present, Future, a book honouring the late integrity icon Dr. Christopher Kolade. Furthermore, the premiere of the short film “One Voice Many Echoes” wove together documentaries on three pivotal protest movements: the 1993 election annulment protests, the 2010 Enough is Enough protests, and the 2020 #EndSARS protests. This curation creates a powerful narrative arc, demonstrating that the struggle for accountable governance is a continuous thread in Nigeria’s modern history, with each generation facing its own version of the same fundamental challenge.
In conclusion, Professor Utomi’s analysis moves beyond mere condemnation. It offers a framework for understanding Nigeria’s stagnation: a failure of ethical leadership across political and business elites, a democratic process lacking moral conviction, and a civic sphere that has not yet fully harnessed its power. The path forward, as outlined, requires a dual transformation: a new generation must rise with organised purpose, and a broader coalition of citizens must reclaim the ethical high ground, turning the echoes of past protests into the unified voice of a national renewal.
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